Grip apparatus

Abstract

A grip system comprises a protective case and a grip apparatus. The grip apparatus is attached to a back surface of the protective case. The grip apparatus includes a base, two flexible strips or straps, and a cap. The base is configured to be removably inserted into the recess in the back of the protective case. The two flexible strips are each attached to the base. The cap is proximate a top surface of the base when in a stowed position and extendable away from the top surface of the base when the cap is pulled outward to an extended position. Each flexible strip is configured or adapted to slide within a slot or channel in the cap. Each flexible strip slides into the slot when the grip apparatus is transitioned to the stowed position and slides out of the slot when transitioned to the extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grip system configured for assisting holding of an electronic device by a user, the grip system comprising:
 a protective case configured for receiving the electronic device and covering at least a portion of a housing of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, the protective case having a back surface which includes a cavity; and   a grip apparatus attached to the back surface of the protective case, the grip apparatus comprising:
 a base attached to the protective case in the cavity of the back surface of the protective case; 
 two flexible straps each formed from a bendable material and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each is attached to the base; and 
 a cap slidably attached to the two flexible straps, wherein the cap is proximate the base of the grip when in a stowed position, wherein the cap is extendable away from the base when the cap is pulled outward to extend the cap to an extended position, wherein each flexible strap slides outward from a slot in the cap when the grip apparatus is transitioned from the stowed position to the extended position and slides into the slot when the grip apparatus is transitioned back to the stowed position, and wherein a stop feature proximate the second end of each flexible strap establishes a maximum extension length and prevents the each flexible strap from fully exiting the slot. 
   
     
     
         2 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the cap is in the cavity of the back surface of the protective case when in the stowed position. 
     
     
         3 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the cap is substantially flush with the back surface of the protective case when in the stowed position. 
     
     
         4 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the base is rotatable relative to the protective case. 
     
     
         5 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the base is removably attachable to the protective case. 
     
     
         6 . The grip system of  claim 5  wherein the cavity in the back surface of the protective case includes a circular opening having a lip wherein the cavity extends under the lip, and the base of the grip has a circular shape having a diameter that is larger than the circular opening of the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The grip system of  claim 6  wherein the base is configured to temporarily deform when an external force is applied such that the base temporarily fits through the diameter of the opening and into the recess of the protective case. 
     
     
         8 . The grip system of  claim 7  wherein the base is configured to relax to the original diameter of the base when the external force is removed from the base such that the base extends under the lip thereby removably attaching the grip apparatus to the protective case. 
     
     
         9 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein each flexible strap is substantially planar when the grip apparatus is in the stowed position and bends to slide into and out of the slot in the cap when transitioning the grip apparatus between the stowed position and the extended position. 
     
     
         10 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the slot in the cap is two slots and each of the flexible straps slides in a separate one of the two slots in the cap. 
     
     
         11 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the cap and the flexible straps are configured for receiving one or more fingers of a user for holding the grip apparatus and the protective case when the grip apparatus is in the extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The grip system of  claim 1  wherein the cap is further configured to serve as a stand for the protective case when the grip apparatus is in the extended position or in a partially extended position. 
     
     
         13 . A grip apparatus adapted for holding an electronic device, the grip apparatus comprising:
 a base adapted to attach to a back surface of the electronic device or to a back surface of a case for the electronic device;   two flexible strips each formed from a bendable material, each flexible strip having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each flexible strip is attached to the base; and   a cap slidably attached to the two flexible strips, wherein the cap is proximate the base of the grip apparatus when in a stowed position, wherein the cap is extendable away from the base and away from the electronic device or the case when the cap is pulled outward from the base to extend the cap to an extended position, wherein each flexible strip is adapted to slide outward from a slot in the cap when the grip apparatus is transitioned from the stowed position to the extended position and adapted to slide into the slot when the grip apparatus is transitioned from the extended position to the stowed position, and wherein the second end of each flexible strip includes a stop feature.   
     
     
         14 . The grip apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each flexible strip includes a first material and a second material that is different than the first material, wherein the first material makes up an inner portion of the flexible strip and the second material is molded over the first material. 
     
     
         15 . The grip apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first material has a preferred stiffness characteristic relative to the second material. 
     
     
         16 . The grip apparatus of  claim 13  when the base is circular and sized to fit within a recess of the case. 
     
     
         17 . The grip apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each flexible strip is substantially planar when the grip apparatus is in the stowed position and bends to slide into and out of the slot in the cap when transitioning the grip apparatus between the stowed position and the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The grip apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the slot in the cap is two slots and each of the flexible strips slides in a separate one of the two slots in the cap. 
     
     
         19 . The grip apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the cap and the flexible strips are adapted for receiving one or more fingers of a user for holding the grip apparatus and one or more of the electronic device and the case. 
     
     
         20 . The grip apparatus of  claim 13  further including the case wherein the grip apparatus is removably attachable to the case such that the grip apparatus is flush with a back surface of the case when in the stowed position.